City Election Information for 2017

PLEASE NOTE: An informational workshop for City Council candidates will be held Wednesday, August 30th, 2017 at 6:00 PM in the Sandpoint City Hall council chambers.

NEXT ELECTION DATE: November 7, 2017

VOTER REGISTRATION: Any U.S. citizen who is 18 years of age can register to vote. If you live in Sandpoint, you can register at the Bonner County Administration Building, 1500 Highway 2, Suite 337. In order to register to vote you must have a photo ID, either a driver’s license or State-issued identification card. If the address on the photo ID is not your current address, you must show any document which provides proof of current residence. The deadline for registering to vote at the polls closes Friday, October 13, 2017. Following that date, you may register and vote absentee until Friday, November 3, 2017. You may also register and vote at the polling place on Election Day, November 7, 2017.

Please contact the Bonner County Election Department at 208-255-3631 or visit their website at bonnercounty.us/elections to see where you would vote. Polls will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

ABSENTEE VOTING: The absentee request form is available on Bonner County’s website at bonnercounty.us/elections. Please remember to completely fill out the form and sign your name. The absentee form is to be returned to the Bonner County Clerk at 1500 Highway 2, Suite 337, Sandpoint, ID 83864. The request forms for mailed ballots must be received no later than Friday, October 27, 2017. The last day to request a ballot for in-person absentee voting will be Friday, November 3, 2017. The Bonner County Clerk must receive absentee ballots no later than 8:00 p.m. November 7, 2017.

CANDIDATE INFORMATION: Thank you for your interest in filing as a candidate for City of Sandpoint elected office. Three four-year City Council positions are up for election on November 7, 2017. Council members Snedden, Camp and Williamson’s terms are up for election this year. Candidate filing forms are available at the City Clerk’s office at City Hall or print the form on-line.

CANDIDATE FILING: The first day for candidates to file declaration of candidacy is Monday, August 28, 2017, at 8:00 a.m. Candidates are required to certify on their declaration of candidacy that they are a qualified elector, meaning: at least 18 years of age, a U.S. citizen, the candidate’s primary residence must be within the City of Sandpoint, the address of the candidate’s voter registration must match the residence address provided on the candidate’s declaration, and the candidate must be a resident of the City of at least 30 days prior to submitting their declaration. A completed, notarized Declaration of Candidacy shall be accompanied by either:

1. A Petition of Candidacy with no less than five (5) signatures of qualified city electors; or
2. A non-refundable filing fee of Forty Dollars ($40.00).

The law requires petition signatures to be verified by the County Clerk before the petition is submitted to the City Clerk with the declaration of candidacy. The last day for candidates to file declaration of candidacy is Friday, September 8, 2017, at 5:00 p.m. (PDT). Persons who miss this deadline have until Tuesday, October 10, 2017, to file a Declaration of Intent to run as a write-in candidate. The deadline for candidates to withdraw their candidacy is Friday, September 25, 2017.

CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTING: Idaho Code § 50-477 provides that Idaho campaign disclosure statutes apply to elections for mayor and council members in cities with a population of more than 5,000. Candidates are required to file the Appointment and Certificate of Political Treasurer form before contributions may be received or expenditures made on behalf of a candidate. The political treasurer can be an individual registered to vote, or a candidate may serve as his or her own political treasurer. and Campaign Finance Disclosure forms. Click here to access the 2017 Campaign Finance Reporting Manual. Click here for Appointment of Political Treasurer form.

The Campaign Finance Disclosure forms are to be filed electronically only, to the City Clerk at mpeck@sandpointidaho.gov or by fax at 208-263-3678.